Jury Still Deliberating In McDonalds Strip Search Case

Posted: Fri 10:39 AM, Oct 05, 2007&nbsp|&nbsp

Updated: Fri 10:51 AM, Oct 05, 2007

SHEPHERDSVILLE, Ky. (AP) - A jury entered a second day ofdeliberations Friday in a lawsuit by a woman who was forced tostrip and was sexually abused in a McDonald's back office at thebehest of a caller posing as a police officer. Louise Ogborn, 21, is suing the fast-food giant, accusing it offailing to warn her and other employees about hoax calls, which hadalready struck other McDonald's stores and other fast-foodrestaurants across the country. Ogborn is seeking $200 million in compensatory and punitivedamages. McDonald's Corp. attorneys have told jurors the companywas not responsible for the strip search and sexual abuse, and isonly being sued because of its deep pockets. After a four-week trial, the jury deliberated all day Thursdaybefore breaking without reaching a verdict. Deliberations resumedabout 9 a.m. EDT Friday in Bullitt County Circuit Court, about 25miles south of Louisville. Jurors asked the judge multiple questions on Thursday, includingwhether how they apportioned blame in the case affected who paidany damages awarded. Kim Dockery, a McDonald's assistant manager, and formerassistant manager Donna Summers are also named as defendants in thesuit. Summers pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor in relation to theincident. Her former fiance, Walter Nix Jr., is serving five yearsin prison for sexually abusing Ogborn during the 3½-hour search. A Florida man, David Stewart, was charged with making the hoaxphone call but acquitted last summer. Police have said the callsstopped after Stewart's arrest. Summers has also sued McDonald's over the incident and is askingthe jury to award her $50 million. The caller to the restaurant in Mount Washington in April 2004impersonated a police officer and gave a description of a young,female employee, accusing her of stealing from a customer. Thecaller gave instructions for a strip search, which led to theincident and the lawsuit.

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